Thursday, December 19, 2013

Israeli
Naval Forces stationed off Beit Lahi shore in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in 4 separate incidents while
sailing between 600 meters and 3 nautical miles. Israeli naval forces
also confiscated 24 fishing nets. The Palestinian Center for Human
Rights (PCHR) expresses concern over the continued targeting of
fishermen and their livelihoods. Economic and social rights of fishermen
have been violated by the illegal naval blockade imposed by Israeli
authorities on the Gaza waters since June 2007.

According
to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:40 on
Wednesday, 18 December 2013, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a
Palestinian fishing boat that was sailing about 600 meters off al-Wahah
shore in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Two gunboats surrounded
the fishing boat that was boarded by 3 fishermen: Mahmoud ‘Ali ‘Arouq
(16); his brother Mohammed (22); and Jom’aah Amin ‘Arouq (24). Israeli
naval forces ordered them to stop fishing and give themselves up, but
they refused and fled away. The naval forces confiscated 14 fishing nets
whose total lengths are 840 meters. Mahmoud ‘Ali ‘Arouq (28) said that
they left the waters to the shore and watched the gunboats hoping that
they would regain the fishing nets. However, the gunboats confiscated
the fishing nets and left the place.

In
another incident, at approximately 12:30 yesterday, 18 December 2013,
Israeli gunboats opened fire at a fishing boat belonging to Khalid ‘Awad
al-Kafranah, from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, while sailing
at approximately 1.5 nautical miles off al-Wahah shore in Beit Lahia in
the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli naval forces then confiscated 10
fishing nets.

In
a third incident, at approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 17 December 2013,
Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Wahah shore in Beit Lahia in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire in the vicinity of Palestinian fishing
boats that were sailing approximately 3 nautical miles offshore. The
shooting continued for about 10 minutes, so fishermen were forced to
flee for fear of being attacked.

In
a fourth incident, at approximately 14:10 on Monday, 16 December 2013,
Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Wahah shore in Beit Lahia in the
northern Gaza Strip opened fire in the vicinity of the Palestinian
fishing boats that were sailing at approximately 3 nautical miles
offshore. The shooting continued for about 15 minutes, so fishermen
were forced to flee for fear of being attacked.

PCHR condemns the continued Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, and:

1. Calls
for immediately stopping the policy of chasing and arresting
Palestinian fishermen, and allowing them to sail and fish freely;

2. Demands
compensation for the fishermen for the physical and material damage
caused to them and their property as a result of these violations;

3. Calls
upon the international community, including the High Contracting
Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 Relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to immediately intervene
to stop the Israeli violations against the Palestinian fishermen and to
allow them to sail and fish freely in the Gaza Sea.